The state of Florida is updating its nearly 30-year-old management plan for 137 spoil islands in the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve, and dealing with human feces is a top priority.
Since January and continuing for another year or so, the nonprofit Marine Resources Council – in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – has been surveying visitors to the islands in St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard counties to get a handle on recreational use: how many people are visiting; when and how often; how long do they stay; what they do there; and their attitudes and behavior regarding handling human waste.
Caity Savoia, the council’s lead scientist, oversees training more than 450 volunteer survey-takers.
“I didn’t realize how many people are recreating on these islands,” Savoia said. “A lot of people know it’s not appropriate to poop on land, but they think it’s OK to poop in the water. Hopefully we can raise awareness that, along with enjoying the islands, there’s a responsibility for caring for them.”
There’s no trash collection or waste management on any of the spoil islands, which are man-made creations stemming from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in the 1900s.
So the state has partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to help educate campers, boaters, paddlers and swimmers about human impacts on these popular recreational lands.
The centerpiece of Leave No Trace is “pack it in – pack it out” – meaning whatever visitors bring with them to the islands must leave with them, including all trash and human waste.
About three years ago, officials of the aquatic preserve began installing dispensers with free landfill-approved human waste bags known as WAG bags on a couple of the spoil islands, funded by grants and donations.
Currently, dispensers are located on three St. Lucie County islands, two Brevard County islands and one Indian River County island. The dispensers are maintained by preserve staff, volunteers and Friends of the Spoil Islands. Officials are looking for sponsors to help install more.
On the islands with no WAG bags, visitors are encouraged to bring their own, or else bring portable toilets or use the ones on their boats.
Human waste isn’t the only issue on the islands; Savoia’s survey team also is asking visitors whether trash, invasive plants, rats, squatter camps, or derelict boats are a problem.
The state will use data from the surveys as guidance for future management actions.
For more information on responsible recreation on the spoil islands, visit http://spoilislandproject.org/leave-no-trace/